Battambang vs Siem Reap: Why Cambodia's Second City Deserves Your Time
Everyone goes to Siem Reap. That's where Angkor Wat is, and Angkor Wat is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. No argument.
But here's what most travelers miss: Battambang, 3 hours west, is a different Cambodia entirely. Quieter, more authentic, with experiences you genuinely can't get anywhere else — a bamboo train, the world's best circus, and a nightly bat exodus that turns the sky black.
I've been to both. Here's the honest comparison.
Why Compare Them?
Both are in northwest Cambodia. Both are affordable even by Southeast Asian standards. Both have Angkor-era temples. And the bus between them is 3 hours and costs $6-10.
But the experiences are completely different.
Category-by-Category
The Headline Attraction
Siem Reap: Angkor Wat. The world's largest religious monument. Sunrise over the iconic five towers. Three days of temple-hopping through Bayon, Ta Prohm (the tree temple), and Banteay Srei. One-day pass: $37. Three-day pass: $62.
Battambang: The Phare Ponleu Selpak Circus. A world-class circus founded by Khmer Rouge survivors, combining acrobatics, theater, music, and Cambodian stories. Performances nightly (Monday, Thursday, Saturday typically). Tickets: $14-18. The sister show in Siem Reap is more famous, but this is the original. The performances are raw, powerful, and unlike anything you'll see at Cirque du Soleil.
Winner: Siem Reap for sheer scale and historical significance. But Battambang's circus is emotionally more impactful than any temple.
Unique Experiences
Siem Reap: Temple sunrise. Pub Street nightlife. Floating villages on Tonle Sap. Cooking classes. Night markets.
Battambang: Bamboo Train (Norry) — a bamboo platform on a small engine rolling along old French colonial tracks through rice paddies ($5/person). Phnom Sampov bat caves — every sunset, millions of bats stream out in a spiral column lasting 30-45 minutes (free to watch). Wat Ek Phnom — an 11th-century Angkorian temple ruin you'll likely have to yourself ($1 entry).
Winner: Battambang for uniqueness. The bamboo train and bat caves exist nowhere else.
Architecture & History
Siem Reap: Angkor empire — 9th to 15th century Hindu and Buddhist temples. Arguably the greatest archaeological site in Southeast Asia.
Battambang: French colonial architecture from the 1900s — some of Cambodia's best-preserved shophouses. The Sangker River waterfront is charming. Plus smaller Angkor-era ruins at Wat Ek Phnom and Phnom Sampov.
Winner: Siem Reap for ancient history. Battambang for colonial-era atmosphere.
Food
Siem Reap: More restaurants, more variety. Pub Street is tourist-oriented but the side streets have excellent Khmer food. Fish amok (coconut curry steamed in banana leaf) is the standout.
Battambang: Fewer restaurants but more authentic. Cooking classes with market tours ($15-25, half day — Nary Kitchen and Coconut Lyly are well-reviewed). The central market (Phsar Nath) is less touristy than Siem Reap's. Local restaurants serve excellent lok lak (stir-fried beef with pepper sauce) for $2-3.
Winner: Battambang for authentic food experiences. Siem Reap for variety.
Budget
Battambang: Tuk-tuk half day $10-15, full day $18-25. Rooms $8-20. Meals $2-5. Circus $14-18. Bamboo train $5. Total daily budget: $30-50.
Siem Reap: Angkor pass $37/day. Tuk-tuk to temples $15-20/day. Rooms $10-30. Meals $3-8. Total daily budget: $50-80.
Winner: Battambang is significantly cheaper, mainly because the main attractions cost under $20 combined.
Crowd Level
Siem Reap: 2+ million tourists per year. Angkor Wat at sunrise draws hundreds daily. Pub Street is packed nightly.
Battambang: A fraction of the traffic. Wat Ek Phnom? You'll be alone. The bat caves? Maybe 20 other people. The colonial streets? Empty.
Winner: Battambang. It's what Siem Reap was 15 years ago.
Getting Around
Siem Reap: Tuk-tuks, Grab app, bicycles. The temples are spread over a large area but roads are good.
Battambang: Tuk-tuk day tours are the standard ($10-25 for half/full day). Fix itinerary and price before departing. Mr. Sarun and Mr. Van are well-reviewed drivers. The city center is walkable.
Winner: Siem Reap for options. Battambang for simplicity.
Do both. Fly into Siem Reap, spend 3-4 days at Angkor, then bus to Battambang (3 hours, $6-10) for 2-3 days. The contrast between Angkor's grandeur and Battambang's quiet charm makes each one richer.
The scenic boat from Siem Reap via Tonle Sap runs in wet season (July-November, $20, 6-8 hours) — beautiful but cramped and long.
Total budget for 6-7 days across both cities: $250-400. For the breadth of Cambodian experience you'll get, that's extraordinary value.
